Eric Maurice is a French-Ivorian businessman and the first husband of Emmy-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph. He was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to an African-American father and an American mother.

Maurice co-owns 1515 Design and Manufacturing in Inglewood, California. He married Ralph in 1990, and their marriage ended in 2001.

They raised two children, Etienne Maurice and Ivy-Victoria Maurice, who now work in film and fashion. Maurice is reportedly in his late 60s in 2026, and he keeps a low public profile.

This profile sticks to the verified facts about his age, career, family and life today.

Who Is Eric Maurice?

Eric Maurice became publicly known through his marriage to Sheryl Lee Ralph. He has never pursued celebrity for himself. He works as an entrepreneur and international businessman with a taste for menswear and food.

How Old Is Eric Maurice? Age and Birth Year

Eric Maurice has never published his birth date. He was reportedly born between 1957 and 1959, which puts him in his late 60s in 2026.

That timeline fits his life story. He married in 1990, when he would have been in his early thirties. He became a father in 1992 and again in 1995.

Eric Maurice’s Birthplace, Nationality and Ethnicity

Maurice’s background crosses three continents. Each part of it shows up in his work and family life.

Where Was Eric Maurice Born?

Maurice was born in Abidjan, the largest city in Ivory Coast. The city sits on the coast of West Africa and blends African traditions with French colonial heritage. Growing up there exposed him to several languages and cultures.

Eric Maurice’s Nationality and Ethnicity

Maurice holds French citizenship and Ivorian citizenship. His ethnic background is mixed, with African-American and American roots on his parents’ side. His Instagram bio describes him as a Euro-African American entrepreneur and world traveler.

Who Are Eric Maurice’s Parents?

His father is African-American, and his mother is American. Maurice has not shared their names or any details about siblings. He keeps his family background private.

Eric Maurice’s Career and Business Ventures

Maurice builds businesses away from the spotlight. His work centers on design, distribution and food equipment.

What Does Eric Maurice Do for a Living?

Maurice works as an entrepreneur who spots market gaps and turns them into working ventures. Quality and customer service sit at the center of how he runs a company. He is reportedly recognized within the food equipment industry for that approach.

1515 Design and Manufacturing and Doregrill Rotisseries

Maurice co-founded 1515 Design & Manufacturing with Francis Delpech in January 2011. The company operates from Inglewood, California.

It imports and distributes Doregrill Rotisseries, a European brand about 60 years old.

Delpech and Maurice bring more than 25 years of combined experience in food concept design and European equipment imports. Their rotisserie equipment helps retailers present food well and streamline daily processes. Service and maintenance programs back every sale.

Menswear, Food and Travel: His Public Image

On Instagram, Maurice describes himself as a world traveler who enjoys menswear, lifestyle and food. Those interests sit close to his trade, since food equipment depends on presentation. His social media presence stays minimal and carefully managed.

Eric Maurice’s Net Worth

Eric Maurice has never published his finances, and no verified net worth figure exists. His income comes from co-owning 1515 Design and Manufacturing, which imports European equipment into the U.S. His lifestyle points to steady business success.

How Eric Maurice Met and Married Sheryl Lee Ralph

Their love story began in the late 1980s. It grew into a ten-year marriage with two children.

How They Met

Sheryl Lee Ralph once tied a string around her finger as a promise to focus on her career. She made that promise at a birthday party where she was the only single guest.

Soon afterward, she met Maurice, a French businessman. After a few dates, he gave her a diamond ring and proposed.

The 1990 Wedding

The couple married in 1990 in a white wedding ceremony in Los Angeles. Ralph was already known for Broadway and was rising in Hollywood, so the marriage brought Maurice into the limelight. Their union lasted about 11 years.

Why Did Eric Maurice and Sheryl Lee Ralph Divorce?

Rumors about a split began in 2000, and the divorce became final in 2001. The couple had hoped to handle it privately. Ralph has since called the divorce painful and has spoken about the depression that followed.

The National Enquirer Article and Lawsuit

The National Enquirer published an article about the breakup in 2000. Its headline referenced Ralph’s role as a mother on the TV show Moesha.

The tabloid claimed she was leaving her husband to date younger men, and Ralph said those claims were false. She filed a $1 million lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court for libel and invasion of privacy.

Eric Maurice’s Children: Etienne Maurice and Ivy Coco

Maurice and Ralph have a son and a daughter. Both have built careers in creative fields.

Etienne Maurice

Etienne Maurice was born in 1992. He is a filmmaker and director who founded Walk Good Productions in Los Angeles. His credits include H.E.I.R. and Hideous.

Ivy-Victoria (Ivy Coco) Maurice

Ivy-Victoria Maurice, who goes by Ivy Coco, was born in 1995. She serves as Vice President at Walk Good Productions and as creative director of WalkGood Wear. She earned an economics degree from Syracuse University. Ivy also works as an entrepreneur, stylist and creative consultant.

Walk Good Productions, WalkGood Wear and WalkGood LA Explained

Walk Good Productions is Etienne’s film company in Los Angeles. WalkGood Wear is a clothing brand where Ivy leads creative direction. WalkGood LA is a wellness organization with community involvement, also led by Etienne.

Eric Maurice as a Father After the Divorce

Maurice stayed close to both children after the divorce. Ivy has shared that he brought her chocolate and roses every Valentine’s Day and took her to lunch at school. She said those small dates set the bar high for her future suitors.

Etienne has thanked him publicly on Father’s Day, calling him “Pops.” Ralph has said her second husband, Vincent Hughes, respected that the children stayed close to their father. The family’s #ivyanderic posts show that bond.

Conflicting Facts About Eric Maurice: Which Sources Can You Trust?

Reliable details come from Ralph’s own interviews, the family’s Instagram posts, the National Enquirer lawsuit record and business listings for 1515 Design and Manufacturing.

Other professionals share the name Eric Maurice, so this profile covers only Sheryl Lee Ralph’s former husband.

Who Is Sheryl Lee Ralph?

Sheryl Lee Ralph is an actress, singer, author and activist whose career began in 1977. She earned acclaim as Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls in 1981.

She later won an Emmy Award for Abbott Elementary. Ralph also advocates for health and social issues, and she married Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes in 2005.

Eric Maurice Today: Marriage Status, Residences and Online Presence

Maurice’s current life is quiet and centered on business and family.

Is Eric Maurice Married Now?

Maurice has not publicly remarried since the divorce. Ralph married Vincent Hughes on July 30, 2005. Ralph and Maurice keep a neutral, cooperative relationship and agree on how to raise their children.

Where Does Eric Maurice Live and Is He on Social Media?

Maurice lives in Los Angeles, California. He has reportedly lived in France, Ireland, Switzerland, Martinique and Italy as well.

His Instagram profile is not verified, and he posts rarely. Ivy’s posts tag his handle, @ericmaurice.official.

Conclusion

Eric Maurice grew up in Abidjan and built a steady career as an entrepreneur. His marriage to Sheryl Lee Ralph from 1990 to 2001 brought him public attention.

Today, 1515 Design and Manufacturing and his relationship with Etienne and Ivy-Victoria fill his public record. He stays private, and his family continues to speak about him warmly.

FAQs

Who was Sheryl Lee Ralph’s first husband?

Sheryl Lee Ralph’s first husband was Eric Maurice, a French-Ivorian businessman and co-founder of 1515 Design and Manufacturing, whom she married in 1990 and divorced in 2001.

How old is Eric Maurice?

Eric Maurice was reportedly born between 1957 and 1959, which makes him roughly 67 to 69 years old as of 2026, though he has not shared his birth date.

What is Eric Maurice’s net worth?

Eric Maurice has not shared his finances, so no verified net worth figure exists, though he co-owns the successful company 1515 Design and Manufacturing in Inglewood, California.

How many children does Eric Maurice have?

Eric Maurice has two children with Sheryl Lee Ralph: a son, Etienne Maurice, born in 1992, and a daughter, Ivy-Victoria Maurice, known as Ivy Coco, born in 1995.

Why did Eric Maurice and Sheryl Lee Ralph divorce?

Neither Eric Maurice nor Sheryl Lee Ralph has publicly named a specific reason for their 2001 divorce after about 11 years of marriage.

Is Eric Maurice married now?

Eric Maurice has not publicly remarried since his 2001 divorce, while Sheryl Lee Ralph married Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes on July 30, 2005.

What is Eric Maurice’s nationality?

Eric Maurice is French-Ivorian, holding both French and Ivorian citizenship, and he was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to an African-American father and an American mother.

What does Eric Maurice do professionally?

Eric Maurice co-founded 1515 Design and Manufacturing in Inglewood, California, a company that imports and distributes European Doregrill Rotisseries and related rotisserie equipment.